NOW as for the drive hole. I can make a 3/4" square hole BUT I had an idea I thought I would run by you guys. how about I drill a large hole place a large bolt through it and weld it in place. them you could have something like a 7/8" hex to put a 7/8" box wrench on... what do you think?? just a thought.
do you think it would be strong enough?? I will do a test at work and get some results.

I vote for the 3/4" square drive hole.
Besides the leverage and strength advantages that a 3/4" breaker bar would have over a 7/8" wrench, a breaker bar kind of locks into the hole. This would eliminate the possibility of a wrench slipping off while trying to concentrate on torquing and timing the barrel.

I forgot to measure my barrel last night, I'll try to remember to do it tonight.

Not quite to that point yet Colonel, still in the planning stage at the moment.
As soon as we settle on a design, HB is going to whip one up so that he can get a handle on time and material involved.
I would think that he should have some sort of idea on pricing shortly, But keep in mind He has a real job too.

hello everyone
my long work streach os done. I now have a couple days off. I hope to get cought up on pistons and move thies forward too.
believe it or not I did get a lot done by working at the mill an hour or so each day. that was all I could each day. But I hope to work all night in the shop tonight.
here is my idea for now. I hope to get one of thies out to 7.62X39 and get confermation thet everything is just so before I send out more of them. this way if I need to make changes you do not need to send them back to me for refinement.
how dose that sound?? if we get an OK from him then I will be able to ship the rest of them out.
as for price I am thinking $50 for the set delivered. that is not set in stone yet maby better, I have to see how the tooling I bought holds up. mills can add up. I got a 6 flute 3/4" carbide ,,, check the price on that bad boy.... yikes
I got a bunch of roughing bits too.
thanks for hanging in their with me HB

I am off the page for extended times due to job requirements, not gone forever

BIG UPDATE !!!!
I have one allready to ship to 7.62X39 !!!!
I have the rest allmost finished!!!!
I want to send this first ont to 7.62X39 to be shure it dose not need some adjustments. I am prety positive everything will be good because it fits great on the stub and barrel I have here in hand. once we get the OK from him I will ship the rest of the tool sets out.
I haver put a 3/4" square drive hole in BOTH tools so you can hold or turn whatever end you like. how is that ?

I am off the page for extended times due to job requirements, not gone forever